br2975

Why I like 'six-eighters' ! . Brian R

Friday 2nd. July, 1971 Fairwater (Cardiff) Between Penarth Curve North & Radyr. Cl.45/46:- 128, Cl.47:- 1906, Cl.37:- 6886, 6954, 6958, 6978, 6992, Cl.35:- 7054, 7064, 7081, Brian R

Sat. 1st. July 1972 Cardiff General Cl.45/46:- 31, 111, 131, Cl.52:- 1020/41/53, Cl.47:- 1582, 1600/06/60/63/64, 1730, 1918/27/35/42/91 (4V73), Cl.33:- 6549, Cl.37:- 6607, 6881,6908/17/25/29/48/54/77, 6941+6987, Cl.35:- 7085 (8Z28), Cl.25:- 7511, 7624, 7515+7675, DMU 305 (50857+59368+50910), B585, (50729+59266+50660)+(50705+59265+50647)+(55025) 86A CantonCl.45/46:- 23, 111, Cl.47:- 1552, 1605, 1711, 1913/14/27/54/91, Cl.37:-6884, Cl.35:- 7080/85/99, Cl.25:- 7511. 7624 Observations 6549 worked the summer dated Portsmouth-Cardiff Brian R

In 1980 a brace of 'six-eighters' rest at Pantyffynnon contemplating another weeks grind shuttling back and forth to G-C-G, Abernant and other local coal loading points, all now a memory. . Brian R

When Tidal Sidings were a 'steel sector hub' - wagons which would previously had no business being there, would appear from time to time. . ASW did however 'hire in' a number of internationally registered wagons about this time - I may have details somewhere. . Brian R

37710 bullying a few SPA and SEA wagons, Tidal Sidings - 1989. . Scanned from a not too good image. . Brian R

37518 + 37517 Storm out of Tidal Sidings with the daily steel sector working to Tees Yard - 1989. . Brian R.

Depot shunt at Canton (down/west end), 11th. May 2006. . Brian R

I have twin grandsons, just turned three and we are "developing alongside them" and whilst Autism effects most of their daily life - railways are the spark that brightens their day. Despite their communication difficulties, they readily identify Class 60s and Class 50s and due to their 'routine' must watch the passing of the Robeston - Theale/Westerleigh tanks before proceeding to nursery school. . Last week they joined me operating my shunting plank for the first time, and were attentive and as good as gold - not trying to touch or prod the stock, but studying the shunter intently as it moved about the layout. . We use Thomas the Tank characters and stories to assist their development, for counting, colours and the morals of the stories. . The achievements of all children are a milestone, but in the case of Rhys & Daniel, I'm the proudest 'bampy' one can imagine. . Brian R

The first Cl.37/4 repainted 'Railfreight - triple grey' - still minus sector branding, 37423 stands at the blocks, Glasgow Queen St. Friday, 27th. February, 1988. . Brian R

The painter should have gone to Specsavers - or better still contacted a certain Mr Isherwood of this parish ! . Brian R

Richard. . In 1967 Radyr had three D95xx operated 'trip' diagrams (outbased Canton locos); . (i) Radyr, and trips to Aber Jct. (ii) Radyr, and trips to Cathays/Gabalfa Coal Depot, Stanton & Staveley (rear of Mynachdy Road). (iii) Radyr, and trips to Treforest, Maritime Colliery & Pontypridd. . There were no Cl.08 duties in the Rhymney Valley at that time. . I would assume the Radyr - Aber Jct. trip may be a possibility for the dolomite works. . Brian R.

"Bl**dy Setrack Points !" Newport circa 1999-2000 Brian R

13th May, 2006 . 37411 & 37425 top 'n' tail a Newport - Cardiff 'Footex' as it leans into Pheasants Curve, Duffryn. . How many Liverpool or West Ham fans were on the train I couldn't say ! . Brian R

Earlier in this thread there was mention of the summer dated Rhymney - Cardiff - Fishguard Harbour diagram(s). . Here is 37406 on one such working - Fishguard bound and passing the site of the former Ely (Main Line) station on the outskirts of Cardiff. . It was from this bridge around 1964/65 I began the hobby of 'trainspotting' and can recall my dad pointing out 92220 Evening Star on an up van train, and watched as Cardiff East Dock's pannier 3790 shunted the yard which was located to the right of 37406. . Since then I've watched diesels galore pass this spot, including Classes 03, 08, 14, 20, 25, 31, 33, 35, 37, 40, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 50, 52, 56, 57, 60, 66 to name but a few. . And preserved steam is no stranger here either producing over the years the odd King, Castle, Streak, Tornado, Stanier Pacific, Brit, DoG, Spamcan and rebuilt WC, Black Fives, Duck 8 and Pocket Rocket for starters. . Brian R

During July 2002, three Cl.37s were stored 'securely' at the Allied Steel & Wire, Castle Works, Cardiff. . ASW had recently gone into administration, and the locos were removed shortly after. . Brian R

Yes, there was a Rhymney - Fishguard Harbour for a couple of years, summer dated. . One year it was a Cl.50 duty - another year a Cl.37 diagram. . There have also been Rhymney - Cardiff - Buith Road workings in connection with The Royal Welsh Show at Llanelwedd, Builth Wells. The train ran on ECS to Llan'dod to lay over. . Here's 37411 on one of its' first outings after a 'heritage'repaint. It's on one of the evening Cardiff - Rhymney trains, at Cardiff Queen St. 10th May 2005. . Brian R

Some Bristol allocated shunters trucks. Dia - Number - Allox M3 - 41736 - Bristol Canons Marsh - 1944 M4 - 41762 - Bristol West Depot - 1944 M2 - 41765 - Bristol East Depot (Relief) -1944 M1 - 41862 - Bristol Canons Marsh - 1944 M1 - 41863 - Bristol East Depot - 1944 M1 - 41867 - Bristol East Depot - 1944 M1 - 41868 - Bristol East Depot - 1944 M4 - 94953 - Bristol West Depot - 1944 M4 - 94973 - Bristol - 1944 M3 - 94983 - Bristol . Brian R

The one timetabled service that served more than the just the Rhymney Valley. . 2V07 06:59 Rhymney - Radyr (run around) then 5V07 Radyr - Canton ECS. . 37425 does the honours, calling at Ninian Park on 3rd. May 2005. (This stop was more operational than profitable, as it picked up the Canton shunter who undertook the run-around coupling and uncoupling at Radyr) . Now, the loco has gone, loco-hauled services in the valleys are history, and Ninian Park seen in the background is a housing estate. . Brian R

My first ever 'railway' photograph - taken circa 1964/65 at Waterhall Jct. . My most recent 'railway' photograph taken less than a mile away at Ely (Main Line) 1:00pm today. . Say something about the longevity of the design. . Brian R

For those not already aware - this years L & B Show will not be in the Pumping Station proper, but in the single storey brick building next door i.e. across the car park, formerly a furniture outlet. . Brian R

37408 with ECS for Canton at Cardiff Central, Platform 3. . Brian R

To emphasise the lengths we went to, to snap 'six-eighters' doing what they were intended to do .... . Circa 1979 - a Cwm Colliery - Llantrisant coal train viewed from the roof of a rotting PW hut approaches the site of Common Branch Jct. in torrential rain. . Brian R

Marc ( 1 ) If you have an inkling toward 'shuttles' - John at our club has used them, most notably on one of his LT underground layouts. . You can programme the shuttle as to both speed and frequency, so the shuttling train isn't tooooo frequent. . John concealed both terminal ends of his shuttle so the viewer never was the 1938 stock stop, reverse and start again. (2) With 'Castle Works' the ability to set it up, let it go and then wander off to pester other exhibitors like yourself is an added bonus. . My grandsons will eventually want a model railway, and an amended version of the 'Castle Works' plan has been considered as it is 4'0" in diameter and with a shunter / Pannier / Jinty and a few sixteen tonners of 12 ton vans would work very well. . Brian R

NEWPORT SHOW - Saturday 1st. / Sunday 2nd. JUNE . CASTLE WORKS by "naturol" will be making an appearance at this years show. . 4mm 'OO' scale, based on the former Allied Steel & Wire operations in Cardiff. . Photos courtesy of Chris Nevard (previously published in Model Rail) . Brian R .